Denton FarmPark patriarch Brown Loflin dies

Wednesday

DENTON — Farmers, collectors, bluegrass musicians and enthusiasts lost a friend on Tuesday when Brown Loflin, owner of Denton FarmPark, passed away at age 84.

For the past 49 years, Loflin has held the Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion, the largest steam, gas and antique farm machinery show in the Southeast, in the park at 1072 Cranford Road, Denton.

With its 15 restored buildings including a general store, grist mill, church, plantation house, blacksmith shop and log cabin, and a full-size steam train, the historical park has been a fixture for decades. So has Loflin, a former Davidson County commissioner and N.C. Highway Commissioner.

On Wednesday, friends and families shared their stories of the man many called "hard-working" and a true friend.

Faye Summey recalled Loflin's relationship with her deejay husband. It started with a phone call from Loflin who in the mid-1960s had built a landing strip off Handy Road that he dubbed Denton International Airport (now closed).

From the annual Fly-In, where people gathered at the FarmPark for their turn to ride in an airplane, grew the Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion. The lines were long, so Loflin began bringing in old farm equipment for people to view while they waited on their turn to ride in the airplane. The collection and interest in the old farm equipment expanded so much, Loflin eventually ditched the Fly-In in favor of the Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion.

"Forty-seven years ago this past July, Bobby Franklin was working at the Asheboro radio station when the telephone rang," Summey recalled. "(It was) a man wanting to know if he would come to Denton to help him out by doing some talking to entertain people as they waited for their plane ride. This man was Brown Loflin. With a smile and a handshake, (it was) the beginning of a 47-year friendship and work relationship."

Franklin added, "Mr. Loflin was a great boss and even greater friend. Mr. Loflin was a man of his word. If he told you something, you could depend on what he had said. (He was) always ready to help out if we needed it. Even after retiring, he treated us the same as he always had."

Once Franklin retired, Doug Stuart of Siler City assumed the role of emcee of the Threshers' Reunion. His wife, Stacey, has worked for the Loflin family for over a quarter of a century.

"Many would say Brown Loflin was a hard worker, a visionary or a dreamer. While all those things are true, what Stacey and I found most through the years was that Brown was first our friend — a true friend that showed respect through a handshake and that was as good as any contract."

Ten years after the start of the Threshers' Reunion, the Denton Bluegrass Festival was founded, originated and produced by Milton Harkey from 1981-1997. Loflin leased the land for the festival to Harkey. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver was hired as the host band. Harkey eventually moved that festival to Advance in 1998.

A different festival, with Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver as the featured band and bearing their name, is still held at the FarmPark. First held the second week in July (following the Threshers' Reunion), it was moved to Mother's Day weekend to avoid the heat of summer and that is where it has remained.

"It‘s a sad day for me and countless others," Lawson said. "Brown Loflin, owner of the Denton FarmPark, has gone on to his reward. He was a hard-working man with a drive and need to always be and do the very best in everything he was called to do. I had no idea 39 years ago when I hosted the first festival there that it would continue this long and I’m gonna miss seeing Brown, either in his truck or on a golf cart cruising, and making sure things were as they should be. He fought a good fight and he’s at rest now. My prayers and heartfelt condolences to the family."

Loflin had been in failing health. His children, Karen and Keith, and their families along with his wife of 60 years, Ruby, have been managing the events which include the Country Christmas Train on the FarmPark in recent years. However, Brown Loflin was still a fixture in his park, riding his scooter or golf cart and keeping watch over the activities.

The Country Christmas Train event, which draws thousands of people to Denton annually, was the brainchild of Loflin. He awoke from a dream one morning and shared with his family that he wanted to start a new event at the FarmPark based on his dream, which included a train ride around the park. In his dream, the train stopped for passengers to view a short film about the birth and life of Jesus. The event has grown to include thousands of Christmas lights and decorations, a visit with Santa Claus, roaming carolers, wagon and pony rides, a petting zoo, craft show, food and more.

Karen Miller, his daughter, reflected, "Brown Loflin was a titan of North Carolina. From keeping commerce and people moving in our state as Highway Commissioner and then his further leadership as county commissioner, to his tireless service in building community through the Denton FarmPark, he has created a powerful legacy for us to continue. His was a life well-lived beyond all potential, guided by his love of God, family, country and community."

Services, donations

Services for Loflin will be conducted in his beloved FarmPark, 1072 Cranford Road, Denton. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-5:30 p.m. in the craft barn (4255 Handy Road), and the funeral will be on Monday at 3 p.m. in the FarmPark Music Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:

• Parkinson Association of the Carolinas

2101 Sardis Road North, Suite 102, Box 15

Charlotte, NC 28227

• Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Research Foundation

Wall Street Plaza

88 Pine Street, Suite 2400

New York, NY 10005

• American Children’s Home

PO Box 1288

Lexington, NC 27293

• Denton Lions Club

PO Box 277

Denton, NC 27239

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